9.19.2010

Just Another Meatless Monday #30 Broke Down Pesto

I grow a crazy amount of basil every year in order to have a good stash of pesto for winter dinners. Pesto adds such a potent flavor blast that it can perk up almost any dish, and the fresh taste can help beat down the worst winter blues. I actually grow it inside on a planting table I use in my dining room instead of hutch because, well because I don't have a hutch. Yet.

Last week we had an impromptu fire in the fire pit and being that it was impromptu we had no grilling meat, hot dogs, salmon or other fire cooking foods ready for dinner. I hit the kitchen and tore through my cupboards in desperation looking for something for dinner. It seems I need to go back to that menu plan idea, hunh? More on that tomorrow! I came up with a pretty great little dinner that suited our spur of the moment fire quite nicely. I made sauteed green beans over creamy polenta with some broke down pesto for flavor.

Broke Down Pesto? Yep, it's how you add the flavor punch of pesto without washing the food processor because it's in the dishwasher. And it feels wrong to crack in to the freezers stores of pesto before the snow flies, too. So I just used all the components of pesto individually in the green beans and topped it with grated parmesan. Yum, seriously even my kids cleaned their bowls, twice!

heat 1 TBSP of oil over medium high heat in a large skillet
when hot add the green beans, careful frozen ones will spatter
cook and stir for 8-10minutes until the beans become crisp tender and browned in spots
push beans to one side of the pan
add rest of the oil to the empty spot
heat for a moment then quickly add garlic and stir fry for 1 minute or until fragrant, don't burn it
stir in to the green beans add basil and about half the walnuts, stir again and taste for salt add as needed
serve over polenta, top with some more walnuts and some parmesan

A big hit even if it wasn't grilled over the fire! And we DID have s'mores, see?? You are now witness to the flaming marshmallows!

Did you see the earth oven we built? Click here to see it and read about it!

I did see your earth oven and I am seriously impressed - what an accomplishment! I love your broke down pesto idea, It's perfect timing because yesterday I was given some gorgeous green beans from a friend's garden- so you have made my menu planning for today very easy!

Hey Laura, I love this idea, and ya, why wouldn't it work? So easy and good! You probably use a whole lot less oil since you arent trying to really preserve the pesto! Cool beans--literally! :) also, your crew and their marshmallows are adorable! My recipe this week is my first attempt at making cheese! I followed the september forging fromage challenge and it worked out great! Thanks for hosting the linky and if anyone forgot, please come visit my giveaway for a september divine living from the inside out recipe Ebook! Today is the last day to enter! http://amoderatelife.com/?p=520 :) Alex@amoderatelife

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